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Show 187 sound of that black gorge in ten minutes. He was romantic and chivalrous; six generations from Virginia gentlemen planters had not erased that heritage nor grace from his bearing. He was a champion swimmer, a wonderful dancer, and the things he whispered in my ear as we danced were pure poetry. But I wasn't open to romance, so I thought. A nice escort, I told myself. Why, he didn't even belong to the Church! My school money had built up, so I gave notice at the hospital to go home for a pre-school visit. Terminating my relationship with him turned out to be less simple. Remembering the preachment from Papa, I led up to the subject skillfully (I thought) over a small table in the ice cream parlor, how I had enjoyed the long walks, the talks, the dancing and dates, and how I would always be friends with him. He heard me out without comment. "Are you through?" he asked at last, when I could think of nothing more to say. "Because if you are, it's my turn to talk. I didn't want to frighten you, but you and I will never be just friends. The first time I saw you I knew I had met my future wife. " This astonishing speech was the beginning of a courtship that out-did the red bird, left all competitors far behind and plunged me into the chills and fever of indecision, of swinging from pole to pole in all the agony that the young must suffer in choosing a mate. At last one issue only was left: the difference of religious belief. His father was a preacher; mine was a bishop. "I can't marry outside the church, " I said. "I love you more than I love God, " he said. At last I said yes, but not yet. I was going to school first. Someday- As the train entered Sevier Valley and home I noticed a heavy pall of smoke which thickened to density as we pulled into Joseph. The family, though |